August 17, 2025
Wild Thing by Sue Prideaux
A comprehensive biography of the artist Paul Gauguin. Most of us know Gauguin for his paintings from Tahiti and his friendship with Vincent Van Gogh, but his life and work were far wider ranging that that. During his time living in Polynesia, he fought tirelessly for the French to return government rule to the Polynesian peoples, while painting their images in a more natural style than accepted European tradition.
One of Gaugin's self portraits
August 9, 2025
Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong
With the dual Victorian fascination with death and Egypt, Mallory and Duncan are invited to a high society mummy unwrapping party. But when the time comes to unwrap the mummy, to their horror, they find not a preserved mummy but a recently murdered corpse. Not only that, the original mummy has vanished, possibly to be sold on the black market for occult medicinal purposes.
Third book in the Rip Through Time series with time traveling detective Mallory Atkinson, this time focusing on the Victorian fascination with death and Egyptology. Even in the 19th century, many scholars felt that artifacts looted from Egypt and other ancient cultures should be returned to their rightful countries. Mummia was an actual trade in Victorian times, based on the belief that medicines made from ground up mummies had magical properties, particularly for male erectile dysfunction (guys have been worrying about their wieners for centuries). Eventually mummia joined the pantheon of medical quackery. You probably want to read the first two books in the series before reading this one. Very enjoyable historical fiction.
A mummy unwrapping party - how weird is this?
July 26, 2025
Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong
Time traveling detective Mallory Armstrong has been stuck in 19th century Scotland for almost a year, working as the assistant to mortician Dr. Duncan Gray, the mixed race illegitimate son of an upper middle class family. She and Duncan are invited to the wedding of his best friend's sister at her fiance's highland hunting lodge. There is tension among the wedding guests and also with the locals, which only escalates when one of the guests is found murdered on the estate grounds. Instead of being a country holiday with friends, Mallory and Duncan find themselves tying to save the groom from the gallows.
The fourth book in the Rip Through Time series. The author gives enough background that this can be read as a standalone mystery if you haven't read the previous mysteries in the series, or if you're like me and it's been a while since you read the last book. Successfully evokes the customs, attitudes, and class distinctions, as well as police methods of the time. I loved how Mallory almost melted into a puddle when one of the characters finally shows up in a kilt. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Recommended for readers of historical mysteries like the Sebastian St. Cyr or the Lady Julia Grey mysteries, or the Outlander historical series.
Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.
Hunting lodge in the Scottish highlands
July 16, 2025
The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore
A young lawyer, Paul Cravath, is drawn into the hundreds of lawsuits that Thomas Edison brought against George Westinghouse, claiming patent infringement. Westinghouse didn't claim to invent the light bulb or electricity, but to have improved on Edison's design to the point that it was a different invention. Westinghouse claimed his alternating current was safer and more reliable, while Edison continued to champion direct current.
Let me lead off with this: there is a scene of animal cruelty at about the midpoint of the book that I found extremely upsetting. It is historically accurate: Edison's spin doctor actually performed these demonstrations publicly, so animal lovers and dog lovers in particular may want to skip these pages. The opening scene in the book is also disturbing, as is the description of the first execution by electric chair at about the 2/3 mark which is extremely brutal.
With that said, this is historical fiction based on the Edison vs. Westinghouse lawsuits, which was the war between direct current and alternating electrical current (alternating current prevailed as safer and more reliable and is used for power grids today, while direct current is used for batteries and electronic devices - this isn't a spoiler, go look it up in Google or Wikipedia).
There are quotes at the beginning of each chapter, many of them from Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, which makes it almost impossible for the reader not to draw comparisons between the Edison/Westinghouse electric war, and the Microsoft/Apple technology battle a century later. Nikola Tesla gets in on the action too. Around page 105, there is a good explanation about how alternating current works and why it is less likely to kill you than direct current. Overall the characters are interesting and well-developed. Chapters are short, which makes the narrative a little choppy. Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a scientific slant.
Examples of two of the first light bulbs
April 8, 2025
The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
An examination of the five months between Abraham Lincoln's election and the start of the Civil War. I have enjoyed Larson's other books a great deal, but for me, this one didn't measure up to his earlier works. I think the sheer volume of research and the number of characters causes the narrative to bog down. Normally Larson's books are gripping page turners, but I had to work to finish this one.
January 10, 2025
The Old Lion by Jeff Shaara
A novel about President Theodore Roosevelt, focusing on his life before and after his time in office.
Although Theodore Roosevelt died at the age of 60, he packed a lot into those 60 years. Before reading this novel, I knew about Roosevelt's life superficially. I knew his face is on Mount Rushmore, but not really why he was chosen over other presidents. He suffered from ill health for much of his life, as well as the loss of two of his sons, yet he was determined to experience all that life could offer. He was a prolific writer on a wide variety of subjects. Rather than his presidency, the author chose to focus on Roosevelt's adventures and exploration. Part of Roosevelt's enduring legacy is the establishment of the national parks service, and he is responsible for the birth of the conservation movement. Recommended for readers of historical fiction, especially if you don't know much about Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt in his western gear
July 20, 2024
The Romanov Brides by Claire McHugh
Sisters Elisabeth and Alix of Hesse and by Rhine, two princesses from a minor German principality, marry two princes of the imperial house of Romanov: Elisabeth marries the effete Serge, while Alix marries his nephew Nicky, destined to become the next Russian tsar.
Rather a long drawn out saga about the youth of two minor German princesses who end up married to two imperial Russian princes, uncle and nephew. All are descendants of Queen Victoria, and all carry the gene for hemophilia. But at the time that this historical novel is set, the consequences are far in the future. Nicky, later Tsar Nicholas II, is the best character. Alix is perpetually glum - today, she would probably be diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder. Her family recognizes that she suffers from melancholia. Even her cousin Kaiser Wilhelm (who isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer) thinks she's damp and can't understand why Nicky is so set on marrying her. The story is rather slow moving and would have benefitted from about 50 or so pages being edited out. Recommended if you're a real fan of the Romanovs or Russian history.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.
July 6, 2024
Chenneville by Paulette Jiles
John Chenneville, a lieutenant in the Union Army and a telegrapher, suffers a grave head injury in the waning days of the Civil War that leaves him in a coma for months. When he recovers consciousness, the war is over and most of the troops have returned home. His injury forces him to re-learn to speak, walk, and perform basic tasks. When he finally arrives at his family home outside St. Louis, he finds out that his younger sister, her husband and their baby son have all been murdered by a sheriff's deputy. The deputy has gone on to murder several other people. When he discovers that the local sheriff has no intention of bringing the man to justice for the murders, John vows to hunt the man down and exact his own revenge.
June 30, 2024
Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa
Oliver Bennet knows that he was assigned the wrong gender at birth. While the world calls him Elizabeth, he knows inside that he has always been a boy named Oliver. A few close friends and family members know his secret, but as he approaches the threshold of adulthood, wearing women's clothing becomes more and more onerous. Worse yet, his mother is determined to find him a suitable husband.
A transgendered remix of the classic novel Pride and Prejudice that the follows the original plot closely. Like the original, there is a lot of traipsing around to other people's houses for tea and gossip. Making Darcy a queer man who has no interest in women, rather than a hetero man who disdains women, was a smart move and explains his actions neatly. Until the middle of the 19th century, there were no official birth certificates, so if your family and your doctor testified in court that you were a male, that was good enough for the English legal system at the time.
If you are a super Jane Austen fan (which I'm not), you will probably not care for this. If you want to read a sweet trans-romance, this is for you. Charming cover art, too.
Illustration of a molly house, the 19th century version of a gay bar
May 28, 2024
Angel of Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lee Child
The continuation of the previous Agent Pendergast book, The Cabinet of Dr. Leng. Quick synopsis: Constance Greene, Pendergast's ward (and possible love interest), has time-traveled and crossed into a parallel universe in the year 1880, to save her brother and sister from the clutches of evil Dr. Leng. Unbeknownst to Constance, Pendergast and New York homicide detective Vincent D'Agosta followed her; unbeknownst to all of them, Pendergast's brother Diogenes has also time-traveled back to 1880 (even though he supposedly is dead). Diogenes was following a man named Gaspard Ferenc, time travel scientist, who was planning on buying 20 $1.00 gold coins, then returning to the 21st century and selling the rare coins for a fotune. But even if they are able to rescue Constance's siblings, the time machine has been destroyed, and if Pendergast's associate Proctor can't fix it, they may all be trapped in 1881.
Well, Preston and Child, it took you long enough. I waited over a year for the conclusion to the previous Pendergast novel. Fortunately it does not disappoint. We still don't know for sure if Pendergast and Constance are an item, but there are signs that they are getting it on. Highly recommended, but read the previous book first. Really, start and the beginning and read the whole series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.
Longacre, now known as Times Square, where much of the action in the novel takes place
April 25, 2024
Boy of Chaotic Making by Charlie N. Holmberg
Hulda and Merritt's wedding is only weeks away, when Merritt receives a letter from Queen Victoria (yes, that Queen Victoria) expressing interest in Owein. Owein is Merritt's 223 year old many-times-great uncle who died at the age of 12 and originally inhabited the walls of Merritt's house. Owein currently resides in the body of a mixed-breed terrier, and is also a powerful wizard. The queen's necromancer believes he has a way of transferring Owein's spirit and magical powers to a human body. With plenty of reservations, Merritt, Owein and Hulda travel to England to find out if such a thing is possible and the potential fallout. But almost as soon as they arrive, they realize that not everyone may want the experiment to succeed.
The third book in the Whimbrel House series. I love Owein, so I was happy that we got a book about him. This is a charming historical fantasy series. I recommend reading the books in order.
Example of a Victorian necromancer
April 8, 2024
A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn
Veronica Speedwell and her partner and lover Stoker are busy restoring Lord Rosemarran's extensive collection of curiosities, when they receive a delivery of a life-sized waxwork figure known as an Anatomical Venus. They wonder who created the figure and its intended purpose, but the mystery only deepens when they attempt to unlock its secrets.
The ninth adventure in the Veronica Speedwell/Stoker mystery series, filled with questionable science, potential scandal, and eccentricity among the aristocracy. The relationship between Veronica and Stoker deepens. Love the covers. Clever, action-packed and great fun as always. I would advise reading the series in order.
An Anatomical Venus - there were also Anatomical Adonis models
December 1, 2023
Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook
After being informed of her sister's death while on an Arctic voyage on the ship Makepeace, Maude Horton demands answers about what happened to Constance. The ship was supposed to be searching for an Arctic explorer who went missing with his ship, but Maude discovers that there was another purpose for the voyage. Meanwhile, Edison Stowe, the Makepeace's scientific officer, is deeply in debt and concocts a scheme to make a great deal of money by capitalizing on the Victorian fascination with murder and executions.
This is a well-researched historical novel about revenge, but the plot moves slowly. Much of the book is spent setting up the final scenes and a lot of time is spent explaining little-known aspects of Victorian life. It reminded me of The Square of Sevens in that way. Learning about the Victorian fascination with executions and that there actually were excursions to watch executions outside London was quite interesting. There are some gaps, since we don't find out what happened to a number of the characters or the fate of the rubies that Stowe was after. Sensitive readers should be aware that there are a number of scenes of animal cruelty.
Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.
In the Victorian age, executions were a source of public entertainment
November 9, 2023
The House is on Fire by Rachel Beanland
On December 26, 1811, a packed house watches a play followed by a pantomime at the Richmond Theatre in Richmond, VA. Sally Campbell and her sister-in-law are watching the entertainment from a crowded third floor box, when someone shouts "the house is on fire!" A stampede to exit the building ensues with men trampling women to escape. When the staircase down from the third floor collapses, the women are trapped.
Based on the true story of the Richmond Theatre fire in 1811. There are four narrators: Sally, a white society lady; Cecily, a slave attending the play with her mistress Maria; Gilbert, a slave who helps rescue people from the theater; and Jack, a stagehand with the theatre company. During the pantomime, a lit chandelier was raised to the ceiling above the stage and the cords holding the fixture caught fire, which spread to the scenery and the hangings. The structure was essentially a large wooden barn and it went up like dry tinder. 72 people died in the fire, with about 2/3 of them being women and girls. Many died when they jumped from the second or third floors. The Richmond Theater fire remains one of the worst fire disasters in U.S. history. Well-researched, will appeal to readers of history as well as historical fiction.
Etching of the Richmond Theatre fire
November 4, 2023
Madame Pommery, Creator of Brut Champagne by Rebecca Rosenberg
After her husband's sudden death, Madame Alexandrine Pommery discovered that they were seriously in debt. To support her family, she decided to sell off her husband's wool business and focus on the winery that he owned as a side business. But instead of making the blended red wine he always sold, she decided she would focus on making a new type of champagne, a vintage that was less sweet and more refreshing, that could be consumed anytime rather than only with dessert.
Fascinating look at a lesser known historical figure, a woman who changed the world of champagne making and how we enjoy champagne today. Before Madame Pommery began her winery, the champagne of her day was more like what we call asti spumanti today. I really enjoy sparking wines like pro secco and champagne, so I found this fictional biography quite interesting. On the cover of the book, note that she is leaning against a champagne coupe - today we usually drink sparkling wine from flutes.
The real Jeanne Alexandrine Pommery
The Pommery Winery in Reims in the Champagne region of France - Madame Pommery wanted a building that looked like a Scottish castle
Pommery champagne - technically only sparkling wine bottled in the Champagne region can legally be called champagne (American vineyards don't pay much attention to this)
October 15, 2023
The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner
After her sister was murdered on Halloween, Lenna Wickes travels to Paris to study with Vaudeleine D'Allaire, a famous medium who specializes in conjuring the ghosts of murder victims to solve their cases. In London, the head of the London Seance Society (a men's club) had coincidentally also been murdered on Halloween. The vice president of the society asks the two women to travel to London to conduct a seance to solve the man's murder, but the two women also plan a seance to solve the murder of Lenna's sister. But the more Lenna and Vaudeleine dig around, the more they suspect that the society is a fraud.
This was part of my seasonal reading for Halloween. I started with the eARC but switched to the audiobook, which I much preferred. The London Seance Society is loosely based on The Ghost Club, which still exists in London today. It took a long time to get to the seance and the solution wasn't that interesting, and the narrative dragged. There is also some LGBTQ tossed in rather casually. This is mainly historical fiction and anyone reading this expecting ghosts and scary things will be disappointed. It's about as creepy as that Long Island Medium television show.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.
19th century seance
September 14, 2023
Vampires of el Norte by Isabel Canas
Growing up on Nena's father's ranch in Tejas (Texas), Nena and Nestor were inseparable as children. But when they were 13, Nestor flees from the ranch, believing that Nena is dead and that it is his fault. Nine years later, Nestor returns to find Nena alive and grown, working as a healer. But the peaceful life of the ranch is threatened by the whites from the north as well as a supernatural creature that steals souls as well as lives.
It's almost fall, so it's time for some seasonal reading, in this case Mexican gothic. Full of folktales, legends, and family stories with a romance thrown in. The vampires in the story aren't only the supernatural kind. If you like the novels of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, you'll enjoy Vampires of el Norte.
The chupacabra, which figures in Mexican folklore and may be the vampire in the story
September 5, 2023
To Kingdom Come by Will Thomas
Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn are back for another adventure. After a radical Irish group bombs Scotland Yard and threatens to destroy half of London, Barker and Llewelyn agree to assist by posing as bombmakers and infiltrating the group.
Historical mystery, the second book in the Barker and Llewelyn series. Lots of colorul characters, including some from the first book: Mac, Barker's Jewish butler; Llewelyn's Jewish friends Israel and Ira; and Harm the Pekinese. Set during the last decades of the 19th century, incorporating history with fiction. Recommended to readers of historical fiction.
Late Victorian London
August 8, 2023
Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue
Anne Lister met Eliza Raine when they were both attending boarding school outside York. Eliza is half-Indian, the daughter of a doctor with the East India Company, sent to England with her sister to be educated. When Eliza and Lister (as she prefers to be called) are forced to share a room, Eliza finds herself unexpectedly enchanted by the unusual girl. They are also physically attracted to each other and the two become lovers and inseparable. Ten years later, Eliza is confined to a psychiatric asylum near the school. She writes to Lister, imploring her to write back and come and rescue her.
Fascinating historical fiction based on the real lives of Anne Lister and Eliza Raine, who became entangled in a forbidden relationship during the Regency period. Lister lived and dressed as a man, preferring to be called either Jack or by her last name, and had several women lovers. I learned about Lister when I read Gentleman Jack by Sally Wainwright, a biography of her unusual life. Well-research historical fiction, fluid writing. Highly recommended for readers of historical fiction or those interested in the history of LGBTQ.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.
Anne Lister (the real one, not the one from the BBC series)
July 22, 2023
Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas
Thomas Llewellyn has hit rock bottom, with no family or friends, unable to find employment, homeless. As a last resort, he answers an advertisement for an assistant to an enquiry agent, which involves some danger. Cyrus Barker is an unusual employer to say the least, taking on cases that need to be investigated discreetly. Shortly after he is hired, Cyrus and Thomas agree to investigate the murder of a young Jewish scholar, found stabbed and crucified in the Aldgate district of London. The crime is stirring up unrest, particularly among the city's lower classes. Even though he knows that there may be some danger involved, Thomas will need all his wits to stay alive.
This is a departure from the usual cozy Victorian mystery, where two spinsters or a couple investigate crimes usually among the middle or upper classes. The tone and atmosphere here are much more hard-boiled, featuring sectors of the London populace that are usually ignored in more genteel mysteries. The main characters are interesting and unique without being overly eccentric. While I suspected the motive, I did not guess who the murderer was, which was part of the reason I liked it. It's unfortunate that prejudice against the Jew and other minorities is still going on, over a century later. The first book in a series.
Aldgate slums, late 19th century
